Faculty & Staff Resources

Persistent Links to Use in Canvas

What are persistent links (permalinks)? Permalinks can be used to direct your students to specific resources in Freel Library databases. These links can be added to your print or online syllabus, pasted into a Canvas course page or sent out via email.  Not only do permalinks contain the information that takes the user to a specific book, film or article, they also contain information that allows the database provider to verify the user’s right to access the information the link takes them to.

The permalink and the URL in the web browser address bar at the top of the page are not the same. Using the link in your address bar will cause broken links and student frustration. The directions below will help you find the permalink for materials in a number of our most popular databases.

Add from any database using Search Everything: Using the External Tools feature in Canvas, you can add an item from any of our databases directly within Canvas.

EBSCO  EBSCO provides a permalink for each citation in its databases and the Search Everything tool. You will find a list of Tools on the right side of each citation page. Click on permalink or the permalink icon (a two-link chain) and a persistent link address will be generated and displayed above the article title. You can then copy and paste this link in your syllabus, Canvas course page or an email. More information here.

EBSCO Ebooks: These permalinks work the same as those in the other EBSCO databases, but you also have the option of linking directly to a chapter in a book. More information here.

Gale Databases:  The persistent link for each citation is found next to the search box at the top of the page, where it says "get link." More information here.

JSTOR: JSTOR provides a stable URL on each article page under the title of the journal and the publisher information. Copy and paste the stable URL to your Canvas site. More information here.

HeinOnline: HeinOnline's permalinks are found in the toolbar at the top of the article. More information here.

Ebook Central: Permalinks for Ebook Central are on the left hand side of the screen under the book information. You also have the option of linking directly to a chapter in a book. More information here.

AVON (Academic Videos Online): AVON has links and an embed option under the "share" button on a video's main page. More information here.

Kanopy: Use the share link below the video to get a persistent link or the embed code. More information here.

Broken Permalinks

The Freel Library uses EZProxy to allow students, staff, and faculty to login with their MCLA credentials and access all of the library's paid digital materials on and off campus.
 
As of fall 2024, the library has a new EZProxy server. Because of this change, all previously generated URLs for library resources will no longer work and will need to be reconfigured. Please check your links in Canvas and follow the instructions below to reconfigure them:
 
The proxy part of old URLs looks like this:

https://libproxy.mcla.edu/login?url=

For example:

https://libproxy.mcla.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&AN=606412
 
When you reconfigure your old URLs, replace the proxy portion with the following:

https://mcla.idm.oclc.org/login?url=

For example, the previous example URL would change to this:

https://mcla.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&AN=606412
 
You can change your URLs yourself or you can send us the URLs and we'll generate new URLs for you.